Aircraft adaptive control system

ABSTRACT

A control system for providing automatic compensation of variations in the gain of the controlled member, such as an aircraft control surface, comprising a closed-loop circuit which operates in obedience to a law relating the value of the actuation quantity to the difference between the actual output quantity and the commanded quantity, said law taking the form :

United States Patent 1191 DETECTOR) 16 m x ERROR RIVATIVE CIRCUIT fMULT/PLIER) J 1 1 (SERVO 1001 Hamel Feb, 19, 1974 [54] RAFT ADAPTIVE CONTROL SYSTEM 3,412,299 11/1968 Buscher etal. 318/561 [75] Inventor: Bernard Hamel, Paris, France v Primary Examiner-T. E. Lynch 1 Asslgneei some? Fmllcalse l' Attorney, Agent, or F irmKar1 W. Flocks Pour La Navigation Aerienne S.F.E.N.A., Yvelines, France ABSTRACT [22] Filed: I 1973 A control system for providing automatic compensa- [21] Appl. No.: 329,475 tion of variations in the gain of the controlled member, such as an aircraft control surface, comprising a Apphcatm-n- Dam closed-loop circuit which operates in obedience to a [63]. Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 246,539, Ap1:l 2i 1 -gm .of .t.h e Htifififiiafifimy to I 12 1 g iggg i g z of the difference between the actual output quantity and ay 7 a an one the commanded quantity, said law taking the form [391 V g1 :Ffiirgfigieatmriofitymtagg1;; K1 M F (X) 5 (X) a n i Q V where B'c is the derivative of the compensatlon signal 52 US. en ..L 318 561 244 77, an; 584 ;Y s such that Y T being a Constant 1511 .Int. (:1. G05b 15/00 and are Said difference and K1 58 Field of Search 318/561, 584; 244/77 and E f f a Said loop circuit including multipllar means, inverting am- [56] Re'erences Cited plif ers, s umnling (rineans, integfiatlor rneaniila digfeiierti- 1a mg c1rcu1 an a c1rcu1 eiverlng e a sou e UNITED STATES PATENTS value of y, whereby said law is satisfied. 3,216,676 11/1965 Brown et a1. 318/561 X 3,250,898 5/1966 Vasu, 318/561 X 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 3,428,791 2/1969 Chandos 318/561 X 3,456,172 7/1969 Hendrik et al 318/561 3,458,784 7/1969 Boskovich 318/561 I 14 I 15 FIX) 17 r- 1 19 (SUMM/NG F p mum/ l DEVICE) '11 1 RECTIFIER [XI AIRCRAFT ADAPTIVE CONTROL SYSTEM This application is a continuation-impart application of Ser. No. 246,539 filed Apr. 24, 1972, now abandoned which is a continuation of Ser. N o, 38 ,7 3 1 filed May 19, 1970, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a total regulation control system but more particularly to a control system which provides automatic compensation for the gain in actuation of an aircraft control surface, there by to ensure stable and accurate control regardless of changes in such gain, by means of a closed multiplier loop which controls the rate of deflection of the control according to the position thereof.

As is well known to the specialist in the art, a derivative-action type of control system renders the corrective action proportional to the variation in error. As the error increases, the corrective action is speeded up; when it diminishes, the corrective action is slowed down and excessive overshoots are thus avoided.

An integral-action type of control system reduces the static error by setting up a corrective action proportional to the time for which the error exists.

By combining a derivative-action control system with an integral-action control system it is accordingly possi-. ble, in certain cases, to achieve stable and faithful servocontrol. i

In the case, however, of a system for controlling the pitch angle of an aircraft, for instance, the open loop gain continuously varies because of changes in the control surface effectiveness. More specifically, in the case of an aircraft free from open-loop short-period instabilities and equipped with an automatic flight controlsysterns with fixed compensating elements, the closed loop response of the controlled aircraft can be rendered satisfactory by simply maintaining the product M x K substantially constant, where M is the effectiveness of the control surface (the pitching moment resulting from deflection of the elevator, for example) and K is an adjustable gain. This requires that the effeciveness of the control surface be known and that the gain K be adjusted so as to be inversely proportionalto said effectiveness.

This invention accordingly relates to a control system which automatically compensates for open-loop variations in the gain of the controlled element, whereby to maintain the closed-loop response of said element satisfactory notwithstanding variations in the open-loop again.

The invention further provides an automatic flight control system which compensates automatically for variations in the effectiveness of the control surface,in order to maintain satisfactory closed-loop response in the system in spite of variations in said effectiveness.

in accordance with this invention, the compensation effect is obtained by means of a special relation linking, an actuating signal ([30) and the deviation (s 6 6c) of the controlled variable 0. from its desired value 00, in the form of a general law such that where B'c and y are signals related to the signal Be by linear differential equations;

and of its derivatives;

K, and K are predetermined positive constants, and

Iyl is the absolute value of the signal y.

The automatic gain compensating servo loop according to this-invention includes a multiplier and an integrator included between two operators, and it eliminates variations in gain by controlling the rate of deflection of the control surface with an amount of gain dependent on the position of the control surface itself.

The description which follows of a non-limitative exemplary embodiment, given with reference to the accompanying drawings, will give a clear understanding of how the invention can be carried into practice. In the drawings FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional integralaction servo loop;

FIG. 2 shows in partial section an aircraft control surface actuator;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a total-regulation servo loop according to this invention. 7

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a circuit for computing the function F(x); and

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a circuit for computing the signal y.

FIG. 1 is a classic error-signal feedback circuit provided between the error signal input C and the error signal output to amplifier A. Rapidly varying errors are not taken into account by integrator 1 because the charge in capacitor 2 remains virtually constant during such fluctuations. lncontradistinction, derivative circuit 3 stabilizes the servo mechanism in respect of sudden variations in the error. However, if a servomechanism of this kind is provided so that it acts upon control solenoids 4 and 5 (FIG. 2) which, through an autopilot and a slide-valve 6, operate a servocontrol system 7 which determines the angle of incidence B of an elevator 8, then the servo system will be continuously under the direct influence of the elevatorgain parameter of the aircraft.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram in accordance with this invention, in which a servo system 9 generates a signal Bc for control surface actuator 7 that depends on the difference x between the commanded angle 6c and the instantaneous pitch angle 0 of the aircraft 21', and also on a function of the angle B c itself.

The system 9 comprises a closed servo loop 20 according to this invention, from which it will be seen that the rate signal Bc entering intergrator l is a function of the position signal Bc issuing therefrom.

As may be seen, when it issues from error detector 14, errorsignal x is first processed in a derivative circuit 15 and thereafter applied to line 16 as a signal,for example of the form given by the formula where x" is the second derivative of x with respect to time I, x is the first derivative of x with respect to time t and a and b are constants.

From line 16 the signal F(x) passes through a limiter l7 and is thereafter applied in the form of a clipped signal Fhd 1(x) to a multiplier 12 of servo loop 20 and to auxiliary line 18, whence, after having been multiplied in an inverting amplifier 13a by a gain constant -K,,, it is added in a summing device l9 to the main signal which is multiplied in an inverting amplifier 13b by a gain constant K1.

It will be appreciated that the direct loop 20 according to this invention circuit 11 possibly formed as shown by an inverter followed by a diode, both of which are parallel-connected to a second diode with the catodes of the two diodes oriented toward the [yl signal output end; and

multiplies this absolute value by an F, (x) factor in multiplier 12.

The signal B'c issuing from summing device 19 thus takes the form Obviously, it would alternatively be possible to provide a signal of the following form In practice, K is preferably chosen very small in relation to K, so that the signal B'c is substantially proportional to |yl and thereby inversely proportional to the control-surface effectiveness, in order to make the control system largely independent of the control-surface effectiveness variation related to the angle B. However, K is not equal to zero and, in the event that |yl 0, the control loop will not be cut off,-whereby in accordance with the present invention an automatic flight control system equipped with servo loop 20 is assured of very great flexibility and excellent stability in pitch. Conversely, if K 0, the loop generatingthe signal B'c cannot operate and it is therefore necessary that K be otherwise than zero, either at all times or when theabsolute value of the signal issuing from filter 10 is below a predetermined threshold value.

Manifestly, the various circuits referred to precedingly, in particular the error detector, limiter, multiplier, summing device and integrator, are each well known per se and consequently'require no detailed description. 7

Referring next to FIG. 4, an example of circuit l'will be described hereinafter by way of illustration. Circuit 15, which computes the function F(x) =x ax bx, may include a first differentiator 151, dirven by the signal x and delivering the signal x, a second differentiator 152 driven by the signal x and delivering the signal x, a first amplifier 1530f gain a receiving the signal x and delivering the signal ax, a first summing'device 154 delivering the signal x" ax, a second amplifier 155 of gain b receiving the signal x and delivering the signal bx, and a second summing device 156 delivering the desired signal F(x). A circuit of this type is already known per se.

Referring next to FIG. 5, the circuit which, computes the signal y such that T y" -iy TBc may include a differentiator 101 driven by the signal y and delivering the signal y, an amplifier 102 of gain T driven by the signal y and delivering the signal T y, a summing device 103 delivering the signal T y" y, an inverting amplifier 104 of gain T driven by the signal 8'0 and delivering the signal Tflc and a summing device 105 delivering the signal T y +y TBc to an inverting operational amplifier 106 which outputs the signal y. Clearly, this circuit 10 has but one state of equilibrium, namely that for which the signal T y y- TB'c is equal to zero at the input of operational amplifier 106. Circuits of this type are likewise known to the specialist in the art.

lg goes without saying that many changes or substitutions may be made in the preferred exemplary embodiment hereinbefore described, without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: a V l. A control system for providing automatic compensation of variations in the gain of the controlled member, applicable for actuating an aircraft control surface having a control surface actuator and drift sensing circuits, comprising a closed-loop circuit which operates in obedience to a law relating the value of the actuation quantity to the difference between the actual output quantity and the commanded quantity, in which said closed loop includes multiplier means for multiplying the signal proportional to said difference, inverting amplifiers of said signal and of the output signal from said multiplier, summing means for summing the signals is suing from said amplifiers, integrator means-for integratingthe output signal from said summing means, a differentiating circuit for delivering the derivative of said output signal with respect to time, a circuit driven by said derivative and delivering an output signal y such that Ty y TB'c, where B'c is said derivative and T is a constant, and a circuit for delivering the absolute value |y| of said signal y to said multiplier means, the output fromsaid integrator means controlling said actuator the deflection angle imparted by which is related to the pitch angle of'the aircraff; the general law taking the form 3' 1 lyl F 2 where x is the difference between the actual position of the control surface and its commanded position,

F(x) is a function of x G(x) is a second function ofx and-K and K are predetermined positive coefficients of said amplifiers, K being smaller than K,. 2. A system as claimed in claim, 1, in which a circuit computes said function F (x) according to the equation F(x) x ax bx where x is the secondderivative of said signal 1:, x is the first-derivative of said signals x, and a and b are constants.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, in which a limiting circuit processes said function F(x), which accordingly enters the equation B'c K lyl F,(x) -K G(x) under the limited form F,(x).

4. A- system as claimed in claim 1, in which said function G(x) is equal to said function F,(x), whereby the equation becomes BC K1 lyl F105) 2 l( UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 793 574 Dated February 19 1974 Inventor(s) Bernard HAMEL It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Title page; Under "Foreign Application Priority Data",

the date should read May 19, 1969.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of July 1974.

(SEAL) Attest: I

MCCOY M. GIBSON, JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents F ORM P0-105O (10-69) LJSCOMM-DC 603764 69 1! [1.5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I9! 0-866-384, 

1. A control system for providing automatic compensation of variations in the gain of the controlled member, applicable for actuating an aircraft control surface having a control surface actuator and drift sensing circuits, comprising a closed-loop circuit which operates in obedience to a law relating the value of the actuation quantity to the difference between the actual output quantity and the commanded quantity, in which said closed loop includes multiplier means for multiplying the signal proportional to said difference, inverting amplifiers of said signal and of the output signal from said multiplier, summing means for summing the signals issuing from said amplifiers, integrator means for integrating the output signal from said summing means, a differentiating circuit for delivering the derivative of said output signal with respect to time, a circuit driven by said derivative and delivering an output signal y such that : Ty'' + y T Beta ''c, where Beta ''c is said derivative and T is a constant, and a circuit for delivering the absolute value y of said signal y to said multiplier means, the output from said integrator means controlling said actuator the deflection angle imparted by which is related to the pitch angle of the aircraft, the general law taking the form : Beta ''c K1 y F (x) - K2G (x) where x is the difference between the actual position of the control surface and its commanded position, F(x) is a function of x G(x) is a second function of x and K1 and K2 are predetermined positive coefficients of said amplifiers, K2 being smaller than K1.
 2. A system as claimed in claim 1, in which a circuit computes said function F (x) according to the equation : F(x) x'''' + ax'' + bx where x'''' is the second-derivative of said signal x, x'' is the first-derivative of said signals x, and a and b are constants.
 3. A system as claimed in claim 1, in which a limiting circuit processes said function F(x), which accordingly enters the equation Beta ''c K y F1(x) -K2G(x) under the limited form F1(x).
 4. A system as claimed in claim 1, in which said function G(x) is equal to said function F1(x), whereby the equation becomes : Beta ''c K1 y F1(x) - K2F1(x). 